UMass Extension Landscape Message #12
May 20, 2005

Quick Info Menu ------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL DATA REGIONAL NOTES - Cape Cod - Southeast - East - Central - Pioneer Valley - Berkshire PHENOLOGY WOODY ORNAMENTALS - Insects - Diseases - Lab Report TURFGRASS - Insects - Diseases - Weeds INFO RESOURCES DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES Use this menu to instantly jump to any portion of the message!

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

The following growing degree day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for the one-week period from May 11 through May 18, 2005 . Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on May 18, 2005. Accumulated GDDs represent the heating units above the 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments since the beginning of the current growing season. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

The statewide GDD averages for this period are as follows: total = 156; GDD/week = 33; GDD/day = 4.7

REGIONAL NOTES

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) - General conditions: The weather has been more typical of early April than mid-May. Cool, cloudy weather has keep plant development in check and has prolonged the bloom of early flowering perennials and shrubs. Lawns are very green this spring! Tulips provide bright color in the landscape. Pests/Problems: Winter moth caterpillar development appears slow, possibly due to the chilly weather. Some areas of Yarmouthport and Cummaquid have noticeable damage. In other areas, the caterpillars are still quite small and holes in the foliage are also small and hard to see. Tent caterpillar populations are high this year and webs are evident on many wild black cherries. Lily leaf beetles are actively laying eggs on lily foliage. The first Nantucket pine tip moth adults have been found in pheromone traps. In past years, we have experienced peak emergence by this time but they are just beginning to emerge this year, also delayed by the cool temperatures. A light frost damaged new growth of some species of trees and shrubs overnight on May 12. Termite adults continue to swarm. Ants are active in gardens and thin lawns.

Southeast Region (Hanson) - General Conditions: Cool weather continues. Comparing GDD accumulations from the recent past, this is one of the coolest springs we have had in years. Plant development is all over the place depending on location. A frost occurred overnight May 12-13. A few plants had some damage, not enough to write home about. A few saucer magnolias and cherries are still in full bloom! Hanson received about 0.4 inches of rain. Crabapples, flowering dogwoods, Exochorda racemosa (pearlbush), Viburnum 'Mohawk', Amelanchier, Fothergilla, Kerria, Arabis, Arisaema, Corydalis lutea, Dicentra eximia, Dicentra spectabilis, Epimedium, Helleborus foetidus, Lunaria, Pulmonaria, Polemonium, Phlox divaricata, Phlox subulata, Primula, Tiarella, Trillium, Vinca minor, tulips, daffodils, ajuga and violets are in full bloom. Forsythia, Sassafras, Pieris japonica, Pieris floribunda (mountain pieris), Brouwer's Beauty Pieris, PJM rhododendron and Omphalodes are past bloom. Pests/Problems: Winter moth caterpillars continue to feed on a wide range of plant material. The winter moth caterpillars are still small but reports have come in of their ballooning. Oak, ash and other trees that leaf out later may not appear to be developing during this cool weather. However, the foliage may also not appear to be developing due to the winter moth caterpillars' feeding in the leaves that have been webbed together. Lily leaf beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, gypsy moth caterpillar, carpenter bees and bumble bees, mosquitoes, ticks, forest tent caterpillars and eastern tent caterpillars are all active. Tents of eastern tent caterpillar are numerous. Blackflies are active and numerous. Termites are swarming. Brown, damaged foliage on larch due to the larch casebearer is showing up. Chickweed, buttercups, ground ivy, veronica and dandelions are all in full bloom.

East Region (Boston) - General Conditions: The second and third instar forest tent caterpillars as well as late instar winter moth caterpillars have been observed on pin oaks at UMass Boston campus. Damage is noticeable to leaves as well as flowers on crabapples at the Arnold Arboretum caused by winter moth caterpillars.

Central Region (Boylston) - General Conditions: No report.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: The cool, moist but not too rainy weather has kept the blossoms fresh and the grass green. Dandelions are going to seed in lawns, while iris and phlox came into bloom in the gardens. What a pallet of colors is in the landscape now. The yellow-green of the new candles on the spruce, the golden brown of the new leaves and catkins on the red and pin oak, and then there are the white-pink-red-orange-purple-violet blooms on the flowering trees and shrubs. Ah, New England! Pests/Problems. Frost damage from the first week in May as well as May 12 and 13, has browned tender foliage on some trees and shrubs; especially some young nursery plants for a couple of growers in the Valley and the Berkshire Hills. They should recover but the youngest leaves look brown now. The bright orange fruiting structures of cedar-apple rust are beginning to show up on the upper surface of crabapple leaves, whilst the gelatinous fruiting structures are still visible on and releasing spores from galls on the eastern red cedar.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Conditions remain fairly dry despite a little bit of rain this past week. Nevertheless, ornamental plants are growing well. Another hard freeze left some plants with signs of frost injury. Pests/Problems: European pine sawfly larvae hatched over the weekend. Eastern tent caterpillar, carpenter bees, deer ticks are prominent. Dieback of boxwood shoots observed.

PHENOLOGY

The phenological indicators are a visual tool for correlating plant development with pest development. The following are the indicator plants and the stages of bloom observed for this period:

CAPE COD REGION - Roberta Clark, Horticulturist for Barnstable County, Barnstable.

SOUTHEAST REGION - Deborah Swanson, Horticulturist for UMass Extension in Plymouth County, Hanson

EAST REGION - James R. Allen, Horticulturist and Greenhouse Manager for UMass Biology Department, Boston

CENTRAL REGION - Joann Vieira, Superintendent of Horticulture, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston.

WESTERN REGION - Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab, UMass, Amherst.

BERKSHIRE REGION - Ronald Kujawski, Nursery Specialist, UMass Extension Agroecology Program, Great Barrington.

WOODY ORNAMENTALS

INSECTS

This spring has been much cooler than last year and the emergence of foliage is noticeably staggered throughout the state and throughout plant species. It's not yet known if this set of occurrences has had an effect on such insect populations as winter moth and others. Much of the state also experienced a late spring frost last week that may have affected some insect activity as well as plant growth. This situation is being monitored closely.

Lepidopteran caterpillars:

Gypsy Moth - Now that the caterpillars are finally settled and feeding, it's time to apply Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (B. t. k.) or a product containing spinosad or apply a tebuzenozide (e.g. Confirm™) which is an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator), or one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides.

Winter Moth - Most coastal towns as well as some inland towns in MA are now experiencing large numbers of this introduced pest. Although, some areas of Plymouth County that had large numbers last year now appear to have lower numbers of this pest this year. The reason(s) for this are not yet understood. However, reports of serious infestations continue to be reported from other areas. Much damage is expected. Common hosts include the following: oaks, maples, fruit trees, blueberry plants and many other deciduous hosts. The larvae are now free-feeders on the foliage and exposed to sprays. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki or a spinosad product (e.g., Conserve SC™) or a tebufenozide product (e.g., Confirm™) or one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides should be very effective if applied now. Note: A new fact sheet entitled 'Identifying and Managing the Life Stages of Winter Moth' (Operophtera brumata)' shows a gallery of winter moth photo images and is now available on this web site.

Forest Tent Caterpillar - Also on the rise as a serious defoliator in MA, this caterpillar mostly prefers oaks but can be a pest on maples, crabapples and other deciduous hosts. They have begun to appear in large numbers in portions of southeastern MA now. Reports of large population numbers have also come in from towns west of Amherst. New York state is, once again, reporting big numbers for this pest this year. Treat the same way as winter moth.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar - Common to Malus and Prunus species, this native defoliator was present in high numbers last year across much of the northeast. Where we typically only see one web, we are noticing a dozen or more in one tree this year. Webs are now becoming huge and defoliation is quite noticeable. Treat with B. t. k. if the larvae are not yet too large (approximately one inch). After that size, they may not be affected by B. t. k. or treat with a spinosad product or a tebufenozide product or with one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides. Single webs can be physically removed by hand on cooler nights when all of the larvae are within it. Larvae are now becoming quite voracious feeders.

Fall Cankerworm - This native pest is still in high numbers, especially in towns north of Boston. It can be found primarily on oaks but it has a rather wide deciduous host range. Eggs hatched around 50 GDD (soon after bud break) so this pest is now very active in some areas of MA. Treat with a B.t.k. product or spinosad or tebufenozide or with one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides.

Fruitworms - This complex of caterpillars will become active between 50 and 100 GDD. They initially look like winter moth but most have 5 pairs of prolegs and not two. They are free-feeders and have been increasing in numbers over the past 2-3 years. Oaks, maples and many other deciduous hosts are attacked. Treat the same way as the other Lepidoptera.

Larch Casebearer caterpillars continue to be active. Right now they appear like little cigar-shaped pieces of needles on the trunks and branches. They are feeding on the foliage as it is emerging. Now that feeding has begun, treat with Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (B. t. k.) or a spinosad product or a tebufenozide product or with one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides. This pest will pupate in the next two weeks (or so, given weather).

European Pine Sawfly - When found in small numbers, remove by hand. When found in large numbers, treat with an insecticidal soap or spray with a product containing spinosad. This Hymenopteran caterpillar is now very active in Massachusetts and the larvae are about 3/4" long and are dark green with a black head capsule. At this point, they are consuming much foliage per day. B. t., of course, will not work on this pest. Treat with a spinosad product or with one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides.

Beetles:

Viburnum Leaf Beetle - Inspect all viburnum plants (those that are established in the landscape and nursery, as well as those that are newly arriving) for the presence of this unwanted pest. The indicator of its presence at this time of the year will be bare twigs that have a 'sandpaper' texture, which is a sign of the over-wintering eggs. Larvae will become active any time now. Visit the Cornell web site, http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/index.html , for current information on this pest. Report any new findings in MA to Robert Childs, rchilds@psis.umass.edu, 413-545-1053.

Lily Leaf Beetle - The bright red adults have been seen for the past several weeks throughout much of the state (not many towns west of the Connecticut River in MA have been invaded yet). They are foraging for food and eventually a mate. This is a pest of all true lilies (not daylilies), fritillaria, Solomons-seal and others. It is a devastating pest to true lilies. Eggs won't appear until late May or early June, which are laid in irregular lines on leaf undersides. Neem-based products, when applied every 10-14 days, can be effective against the larvae when they begin to appear. Other than that, certain pyrethroid insecticides may be necessary.

Piercing-Sucking Pests:

Boxwood Psyllid - Continue monitoring the new foliage of boxwoods for the presence of this insect. The eggs overwintered in the tender shoots and now the nymphs are feeding on the expanding foliage. This activity does not cause yellow stippling but it does cause the new foliage to become permanently cupped. This is truly just an aesthetic pest but can be of importance for nursery or specimen plants. Treat with a registered pyrethroid insecticide when found in damaging numbers. Cupped foliage may stay on the plant for 2-3 years.

Spider Mites - Inspect the needles and stems of conifers now for the presence of spruce spider mite. One of the growth regulator miticide products may be useful. Continue to monitor on a weekly basis for any building populations. Horticultural oil sprays (at the summer rate) can also be effective.

Hemlock Eriophyid Mite - This tiny "peg-shaped" mite is just visible to the naked eye. When found in large numbers, they cause the foliage of hemlocks to turn an unhealthy olive green color. Treat when found in sufficient numbers. Inspect the upper needle surfaces, in particular, for this pest. It will remain active until approximately early June.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) - This pest experienced a phenomenal reduction in population numbers during the winter of 2003/2004. However, by being milder, this past winter did not have the regulating effect on HWA as did the previous one. New eggs are now noticeable. In certain areas, HWA is showing strong signs of rebounding from the winter mortality of two years ago. Monitor for increasing numbers and treat with a horticultural oil spray (when plant phenology allows) and/or whenever the correct weather conditions prevail. Systemic imidacloprid products can also be of benefit.

Mealybugs - Begin to inspect the inner branches for taxus mealybug. Treat when found.

Balsam Twig Aphid - Stem mothers have been active for weeks; now the offspring are beginning to appear and are capable or creating injury to newly expanding foliage. Inspect host plants (mostly balsam and Fraser firs) and treat before they produce copious amounts of offspring. This pest causes new needles to be twisted and they will also be stuck together with large amounts of sticky honeydew.

Honeylocust Plantbug - Now that the buds of honeylocust are opening, monitor for the presence of this pest by shaking branches over a piece of paper and inspecting with a hand lens. These nymphs are very small right now and are pale green in color. When found in sufficient numbers, treat with an insecticidal soap spray or with one of the registered chemical insecticides.

Scale Insects:

Armored Scales - A group of scale insects characterized by a hard, convex covering over their bodies, such as pine needle scale, euonymus scale, juniper scale and white prunicola scale can be monitored now. Treat with a horticultural oil spray (summer rate) when plant phenology and correct weather conditions prevail.

Soft Scales - Tuliptree scale and azalea bark scale can be monitored now. Look for sooty mold on the host plants. In the case of tuliptree scale (found on tuliptree and magnolia), one can also find the large, dark brown coverings on the stems. Azalea bark scale will appear white and cottony and will mostly be found in branch axils along the main trunk. Treat with a horticultural oil spray or systemic imidacloprid. These can be difficult to manage and may require future monitoring and treatments.

Gall Formers:

Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid - Nymphs are active at the base of buds and will soon stimulate the new shoots to become galls. Treat before gall formation occurs. In some areas, gall formation may have already begun.

Leaf Miners:

Birch Leaf Miner (BLM) - The adults have been active and laying eggs in newly expanding foliage. Yellow sticky cards should have been used to monitor for the adult emergence and treatments made at that time with a knockdown-type spray, such as a pyrethroid, to prevent egg-laying within the foliage. Adult BLM appear when the newly emerging foliage of the host plant is about the size of a dime.

Inkberry Leafminer - Inspect foliage of inkberry now for brown patches. These are most likely the mines of this pest. Mines do not show up until some time in the winter; so, any late-season monitoring last fall would not have detected their presence. Use yellow sticky cards to monitor for the emergence of the adults in mid-late May and treat at that time, if necessary.

Other Insects:

Carpenter Bees - These large bumblebee-like bees are very active now. They can be seen visiting flowers for nectar and pollen. They are not a problem for plants nor are they very aggressive. They "nest" in the wooden eaves, sills and trim boards of buildings. The telltale sign of their presence is a "dime-sized" hole in the edge of a board. Tunnels within these boards can be a foot long or more. Holes go into the wood a short distance and then turn at a 90-degree angle and follow the grain of the wood. Repeated infestation can ruin wood.

Birch Catkin Bug will become active soon. This pest overwinters as an adult. Upon emerging in the spring, it mates and lays eggs in newly forming catkins. Nymphs feed on the developing seeds. This pest does not harm plant other than by consuming seeds. However, they often occur in large numbers and accidentally find their way onto people and into homes where they become a nuisance. When catkins fall to the ground, they will contain the developing bugs. Mowing over these catkins crushes the insect within and releases their foul smelling odor. When found exposed on the host plant in large numbers, treat with a registered pyrethroid insecticide if necessary.

Reported by Robert Childs, Entomologist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program, Amherst

DISEASES

Leaf Spot and Shoot Blight - The rainfall has given plants a good watering; but with leaves developing they are vulnerable to leaf spot and shoot blight infections, especially when accompanied by temperatures of 50-70 degrees F. This is the time to apply protective fungicides to nursery and specimen woody landscape plants that are known to be susceptible to these types of diseases.

Sycamore, Maple, Oak and Ash Anthracnose - Sycamore, maple and oak anthracnose are evident now as dark-green to dark-brown curling leaves and shoots, while ash anthracnose is apparent as young green leaves with tiny brown spots falling from the trees. Anthracnose is widespread on early leaves and shoots this year due to the abundance of inoculum on overwintering twigs and fallen leaves, as well as the consistently wet weather. These diseases cause some premature leaf loss, but that is not going to seriously damage an otherwise healthy tree. In the fall fine prune infected twigs and collect and dispose of fallen leaves. Promote drying of foliage by pruning and spacing plants to increase the penetration of sunlight and air circulation in and around plants.

Phomopsis Tip Blight - The current wet conditions, along with the development of immature scale-leaves/needles are favorable for infection of juniper by Phomopsis tip blight. Juniper shoots that are tan-gray with pinhead sized, black fruiting bodies are producing spores at this time. New growth that becomes infected this spring with Phomopsis tip blight will turn green-yellow, then brown and die within a few weeks of infection. Management begins with the removal and disposal of infected shoot tips to reduce inoculum. Cut an inch or so below the boundary between dead and healthy tissue. Now is the time to initiate fungicide control of juniper tip blight to improve plant appearance. Grow junipers that are adapted to the site and that have resistance to tip blight in an open, sunny location to promote drying of foliage.

Slime mold - The bright-colored, but unusual looking stuff that goes by such common names as dog vomit, scrambled eggs, the yellow blob and regurgitated cat breakfast is actually a slime mold - a fungus. Slime molds are primitive organisms that feed on bacteria, other fungi and dead organic material of many sorts, which is the reason why they're more common in lawns and mulch. Slime mold is now visible on lawns, woodchip mulch and patios. On lawns, it can be gray, white or purple and range from several inches to a foot-wide diameter lump. Slime mold may use living plant material as a physical support, but it does not 'infect' the turf. In fact, slime molds harm lawns only if their structures become so thick that they cover entire leaf blades and block the plants' sunlight. If it looks unsightly, simply use a shovel to discard the offensive organism and then stir up the remaining mulch to aerate it. Or, if the structures don't look too bad, just leave them alone. They'll dry out, become ash-gray, and break up easily when raked. Slime molds become noticeable when damp weather triggers their colorful reproductive stage any time from spring through fall.

Bacterial Blight - Caused by Pseudomonas syringae, bacterial blight blackens flowers, new leaves and shoots on lilacs, and stone fruits, as well as frost-damaged Japanese, Norway, and red maples. The host range is actually wider, but these are the most common hosts in our area. In severe cases shoots are girdled and killed and flower clusters become limp and brown. Infection begins during mild (60-70 degrees F), rainy periods. The bacteria typically enter tender plant leaves and flowers through natural openings (stomata, lenticels, nectarathodes, etc.) and frost wounds. As leaves mature, they are less susceptible and leaf infections late in the season are rare. Remove infected shoots during dry periods at least 8-12 inches below the edge of the lesion or where the infected branch attaches to another branch. Disinfect pruning tools with 10% bleach or 70% ethyl alcohol between cuts. Chemical control is not usually necessary, as the blight does not usually kill plants. However, when appearance is important, this is the time to initiate chemical controls to protect flowers and new growth on nursery and specimen plants from infection. Many copper-containing fungicides are labeled to control this disease. One or two follow up sprays at 10-14 day intervals are needed if wet weather continues this spring. If this is a persistent problem on lilac consider replacing susceptible ones (Chinese [Syringa x chinensis], Japanese [Syringareticulata], Persian [Syringa x persica] and white-flowered common lilac) with some of the many cultivars of resistant varieties that are available.

Dogwood Anthracnose - The fruiting structures of dogwood anthracnose are apparent on trees where there are buds that did not open and twigs and branches that died back. Water shortage, heat stress, compacted soils and winter damage weaken trees and increase the severity of the disease. Dogwoods receiving good cultural care are better able to limit the extent of dogwood anthracnose damage. Water during dry periods and maintain 2-4 inches of composted bark mulch over as much of the root area as possible. Prune off and dispose of diseased twigs and branches to reduce anthracnose inoculum that is in the tree and is readily splashed to nearby leaves and shoots. Four fungicide applications are usually needed to control dogwood anthracnose on susceptible trees during wet seasons. Begin now (as buds break open), when bracts have fallen, and four weeks later as well as in late summer if there is wet weather after flower buds form. If this is a persistent problem consider planting one of the many resistant cultivars of C. florida and C. kousa now commercially available.

Rhabdocline Needle Cast - The fruiting bodies of Rhabdocline needle cast are visible on infected Douglasfir needles. Symptoms of Rhabdocline infection appear as elongated, red-brown spots and bands on infected needles. Spots often coalesce and most of the needle turns color except for the base, which often remains green. Infection tends to occur on the bottom of the tree first; but with wet springs during the last several, more of the tree is affected. Infected needles drop prematurely from winter into the summer. Spores are released from fruiting structures during cool, wet episodes from now to early summer and infect new needles as they develop. Avoid overhead irrigation of Douglasfir at this time of the year. Provide adequate spacing and limit weed growth around young trees. If this spring continues to be wet, apply fungicides such as chlorothalonil, copper hydroxide, mancozeb, or chlorothalonil plus fenarimol on susceptible, high-value trees. Maintain protection during the vulnerable period when the needles are first emerging from buds until they expand to full size.

Cedar-Apple Rust. The galls on eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum) continue to erupt with the orange, gelatinous telial horns (fruiting structures) throughout Massachusetts. The orange, gelatinous horns release spores that infect wet apple and crab apple leaves at this time of the year during cool, rainy periods.

Ramorum Blight, also known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD). Since 1995, oaks and tanoaks have been dying in the coastal counties of California. Since then, other types of plants have been found to be infected or associated with this disease, referred to as Sudden Oak Death, ramorum leaf blight or ramorum dieback, or by regulation as Phytophthora ramorum. SOD was first seen in 1995 in Mill Valley (Marin County) on tanoak. Since that time, the disease has been confirmed on various native hosts in fourteen coastal California counties (Marin, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Napa, San Mateo, Monterey, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake and San Francisco), and in Curry County, Oregon. Molecular tests detected evidence of P. ramorum on a single tree in Nassau County, NY but the organism could not be isolated. The only detections in a New England state were at three Connecticut nurseries that received plants from an Oregon nursery. Research being conducted by the Agriculture Research Service, US Forest Service, universities and others is under way to better identify hosts, methods of detection and effective treatments. Currently, 64 plants are regulated, two of which at the genus level (Camellia and Rhododendron). There are no chemical treatments currently available to eliminate the disease in nursery stock.

Status of Phytophthora ramorum Monitoring Surveys. USDA APHIS received $9.5 million in emergency funds to help support P. ramorum activities in 2005. The majority of the funding will be used to support the national nursery survey in all 50 states, as well as the required regulatory inspections in California, Oregon and Washington. It will also be used to fund educational outreach efforts and short-term methods development research in direct support of program activities.

California Department of Food and Agriculture reported 35 P. ramorum positive California nursery detections to APHIS so far in 2005. Twenty-one of the confirmations were found outside of the 14-county quarantined area, while 14 were found within it. Positive detections throughout California, by activity, are as follows: nursery stock cleanliness inspections or compliance agreement inspections – 21; and trace forward or trace back investigations – 14.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has inspected more than 1,400 (of about 2000) nurseries as part of the Federal order compliance survey process; 3 sites are P. ramorum-positive. Oregon also reported 4 trace-forward positives in residential settings. The residential finds originated at a nursery found positive in 2004. Delimitation surveys confirmed the disease has apparently not spread to other plants already in the landscapes. Infected plants were removed and incinerated.

The 2005 National Nursery Survey is underway. Ten states have reported on their progress. As of May 5, 2005, 221 sites have been surveyed and 1744 samples have been collected; none have been confirmed as positive for P. ramorum.

UMass Extension’s Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab Report. The following are some of the interesting disease/abiotic disorder samples received at the diagnostic lab in Amherst during the period May 9 through May 13, 2005:

• Buddleia – 3” plugs growing in a greenhouse since late March had shriveled foliage that was brown-gray; downy mildew.
• Cherrylaurel – 2-year transplants in a sunny site near ocean with fairly uniform browning along with circular leaf spots and early leaf loss; winter desiccation/prefers shade to partial shade along with cherry leaf spot/Blumeriella.
• Eastern white pine – 6’-7’ tall trees transplanted last summer with scattered branch dieback and surviving branches have uniformly browned needle tips; browned needles: transplant shock/water shortage/winter dehydration/branch dieback: weakened condition/Leucostoma canker.
• Norway spruce – ~40 year old tree with progressively more bark loss on side of stem with flush cut wound during the last year, and now a fungus is growing out of the wood; fungus: Trametes versicolor/sapwood rot canker.

Reported by Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, based in the Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab at UMass, Amherst, Mass

TURFGRASS

Diseases: No report: Visit the Landscape Message Archive for previous messages.

Insects:

Chinchbugs and Billbugs - Chinchbug and billbug adults should be active in the next week or two in southern New England. Both spend the winter in areas that are somewhat protected (near the base of a building, in clumps of high grass). Billbugs sometimes can be seen walking on pavement at this time of year. Keep in mind that billbugs are perhaps the most misdiagnosed insect problem on turf in New England, so don't let your guard down. (The damage often resembles drought stress and shows up in July or August.)

White Grubs - European chafer grubs should begin to slow their feeding within the next week or two. The other species (mostly Japanese beetles, oriental beetles, and asiatic garden beetles) may feed for as much as another month before pupating. As always, this would be an excellent time to scout properties and determine which species are present this spring. While grubs do not always show up in exactly the same places from one year to another, there often is a correlation. And at the very least, monitoring would give you an idea of which species you are dealing with.

Pat Vittum, Professor, Turf Entomology, UMass, Amherst.

Weeds: No report: Visit the Landscape Message Archive for previous messages.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

Two UMass Extension Web Sites are specially designed to provide Green Industry professionals with resources, upcoming educational programs and events, and other relevant information. The Internet address for the Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program is http://www.umassgreeninfo.org. The Turf Program address is http://www.umassturf.org .

New England Guide to Weed Control in Turfgrass - The updated 2005 New England Guide to Weed Control in Turfgrass is now available. It contains extensive information about currently registered turf herbicide products, including specifics on application, timing and environmentally responsible use. The guide is available as a free, downloadable PDF file in the Online Publications section of http://www.umassturf.org

UMass Extension’s Turf Management Guide and IPM Facts: For more information about the pests mentioned in this message, you will need to refer to the following publications: the Professional Guide for IPM in Turf for Massachusetts, 2003-2004 edition and Turf IPM Facts . Call (413) 545-2717 to order these publications from the UMASS Extension Bookstore.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

UMass Laboratory Diagnoses for Turf and Landscape Problems: Accurate diagnosis for a turf or landscape problem can often eliminate or reduce the need for pesticide use. The UMass Extension Urban Forestry Diagnostic Laboratory is available to serve commercial landscape contractors, turf managers, arborists, nurseries, and other green industry professionals. It provides woody plant disease analysis, woody plant and turf insect identification, turfgrass identification, landscape and turf weed identification and offers a report of pest management strategies that are research based, economically sound, and environmentally appropriate for the situation. Send specimens and payment made payable to the University of Massachusetts to Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab, 160 Holdsworth Way, Holdsworth Natural Resources Center, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003. The fee for a woody plant disease analysis is $50.00. All insect, weed, and turfgrass identification samples are $25.00 each. For complete information and instructions on how to send specimens, visit the Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab page.

Turfgrass disease samples should be directed to the UMass Turf Disease Diagnostic Lab . This service is available ONLY to green industry professionals such as landscapers, lawn care companies, and golf course managers. For more info specifically on turf disease diagnostics, visit the Disease Diagnostics page at www.umassturf.org .

NEXT UPDATE: The next issue will be available in Friday, May 27, 2005.

This message is produced by the UMASS Extension, Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program. The copy is prepared by Anna Greene from data and reports provided by the staff and faculty of the UMass Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program and the UMASS Extension Turfgrass Program as well as cooperating horticulturists and Green Industry professionals. The text is adapted for access via the internet by Jason Lanier and made available to subscribers via electronic transmittal by Ellen Weeks.

DISCLAIMER. This message is intended for commercial use. UMASS Extension assumes no liability for recommendations. The use of trade names does not imply endorsement. Similarly, there may be other products you prefer to use.

Comments or suggestions in regard to the Landscape Message? Please e-mail the webmaster.

Missed a previous message? Visit the Landscape Message Archive.